PCL president Rickey III is Springs' 18th most influential

As president of the Pacific Coast League, Branch B. Rickey III might be known better outside of the city than inside of it.
The PCL started in 1903 with eight teams in three states: Washington, Oregon and California.

Today the league has 16 teams and stretches from New Orleans and Nashville, Tenn., to Tacoma, Wash., and Fresno, Calif.

"He has meant so much not only to Colorado Springs but to the baseball world all over the country," Sky Sox general manager Tony Ensor said. "He's probably more recognized in other markets than he is here because of the work he's done. The guy is a historian of the game. He's an ambassador for the game of baseball, not just at the minor league level but at the major league level."

The PCL has broken its own attendance records in seven of the past nine seasons. In the same time span, the PCL broke attendance records for all minor leagues.

"He's in every market," Ensor said. "He's dealing with the ownerships of each team to find right fits for the teams and the communities. Minor league baseball has grown drastically over the last 10, 15, 20 years because of men like Branch Rickey."

To read about USCO chief communications officer Derryl Seibel, who ranked #19 on the list, go here: http://www.gazette.com/sports/seibel_38987___article.html/sports_usoc.html

To read about Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore, who ranked #20 on the list, go here: http://www.gazette.com/sports/falcons_38959___article.html/tournament_serratore.html